"Mia, are you listening?"

After Old Parrish finished speaking, Mia Kane was slow to respond, and he couldn’t help but prompt her.

It took a long moment for Mia Kane to come back to her senses. She gripped her phone tightly, her palm slick with cold sweat.

"I... I’m listening. I understand. I’ll try to persuade Adrian Preston. I get what Brother Parrish means. Sacrificing one person to save many..."

"It’s not a sacrifice. We will take reasonable measures to protect the bait’s safety. Desperate times call for desperate measures. William is no ordinary smuggler. Adrian Preston and I are both retired personnel now. Sometimes we have to take an unorthodox approach. There’s no other way..."

"I understand... I’ll talk to him."

"You’re a very reasonable woman, Mia. I’ll leave it in your hands, then."

Mia Kane hung up the phone, her body slumping against the wall as she slowly slid down.

’I don’t want to be the bait. I don’t want to go through something so horrible again.’

’Even with their protection, I’m still scared. There’s always a chance, a ’what if’. What if they can’t protect me?’

’I even have the pathetic urge to just find a place and hide.’

’But if I don’t step up, Adrian Preston and the others will be helpless, and that monster will continue to run free.’

’Why should he get to change his identity and just strut around freely?’

’If sacrificing me means that evil man will pay the price, that more people will be saved from harm, that those customs and narcotics officers can go home safely...’

’...then maybe it’s not so bad. Maybe it’s even worth it.’

Dejectedly, Mia Kane stood up and drove straight back.

Adrian Preston was in the study, at his wit’s end.

There was a knock on the door. He assumed it was the maid bringing coffee.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal Mia Kane. He froze for a second, then immediately understood.

"Why are you back? You didn’t even call. What if something had happened? I could have just picked you up..."

Adrian Preston went on, but Mia Kane didn’t say a word. Her face was so pale it was bloodless, and her frame so thin it seemed a strong gust of wind could knock her over.

’This version of Mia... she looks like a wilting flower, ready to shatter.’

"Mia Kane, what’s wrong?"

"Adrian Preston, let me do it."

Those few words made the man before her go rigid, his pupils contracting.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m taking you back."

Adrian Preston grabbed her wrist firmly and tried to pull her out of the room.

Mia Kane didn’t know where she found the strength, but she managed to break free from Adrian Preston’s grip.

"There’s no better candidate. I’m the most suitable one. I was with Chase Lockwood before. They’ll believe I was the one who secretly tipped you off, allowing you to arrive faster and round them all up."

"You guys were even considering something as crazy as setting fire to the embassy recently. That’s how I know you’ve really run out of ideas. Let me do it. I trust you all can protect me..."

"Mia Kane, don’t be ridiculous."

Adrian Preston’s voice was hoarse, filled with suppressed anger.

"I’m not being ridiculous, I’m serious. Adrian Preston, please, help me catch him. So that no one else gets hurt, so your brothers can go home safe and sound, okay?"

"I have a duty to cooperate with you. Even when the police are investigating a case, they require civilian cooperation."

"But I’m not a cop anymore! I have my own selfish reasons—I’m your husband!"

"Then that’s all the more reason you should do this. Adrian Preston, whether you’re wearing that uniform or not, catching William is your mission."

Adrian Preston stared at her deeply, his dry lips parting as if to speak, but in the end, he fell silent.

Even though he didn’t say a word, Mia Kane understood.

Adrian Preston had given in.

"Go back to your room and rest first. I’ll have them come over."

Mia Kane nodded and turned to walk toward her room.

Adrian Preston called out to her. "I’ll give you half an hour to think it over, okay...?"

"No need. I already called Brother Parrish on my way here and told them to come."

Mia Kane looked back and gave him a brilliant smile. Even though her face was pale, even though her eyes were filled with sorrow, it didn’t stop her from being radiant in that moment.

She was doing something very dangerous, but also very noble.

’I want more people to be able to go home,’ she thought.

Adrian Preston watched her back as she walked away, his heart clenching.

Mia Kane was terrified and timid, but she was also kind enough to sacrifice herself for others.

Her kindness had unknowingly influenced many people.

Soon, Old Parrish and Young Zane arrived.

"Why’d you call me over in such a rush? Is there a new plan?"

Young Zane looked confused, not expecting that in the next second, Adrian Preston would swing a fist at him, leaving him bruised and swollen.

"What are you doing?"

Old Parrish was terrified and quickly pulled him back.

Young Zane, sprawled on the floor, was completely bewildered. "Brother Preston, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Why did you tell Mia Kane?"

"Your wife? Your wife knows? How is that possible? I didn’t tell her."

Young Zane froze, a sense of panic washing over him.

"If it wasn’t you, then who else could it be?"

"You can’t blame Young Zane for this. Mia called me, and I just happened to mention it, asking her to try and persuade you. From the looks of it, she agreed? So where’s the victim? Have you explained the situation? Is she willing to cooperate?"

Old Parrish asked, his face full of anticipation.

Hearing this, both Adrian Preston and Young Zane’s expressions turned grim.

Adrian Preston clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands popping, as if his fist might fly into Old Parrish’s face at any second.

But in the end, he deflated, all the fight going out of him.

"Let’s talk in the study. The victim... will be here shortly."

Old Parrish had no idea what he had done, but he could sense that the atmosphere was off.

"What in the world is going on?"

He looked at Young Zane, confused.

Young Zane just clenched his jaw and said nothing.

A short while later, the study door opened, and Mia Kane came in carrying several cups of coffee.

"Thanks, Mia."

Old Parrish sipped his coffee while looking toward the door.

No one else came in.

And Mia Kane, after setting down the coffee, didn’t leave. Instead, she sat down next to Adrian Preston.

It was only then that it dawned on Old Parrish. He stared at Mia Kane, stunned and bewildered.

"Mia... Mia, you..."

Mia Kane gave a faint smile. "I am that victim. Do you understand the situation from back then? If anyone doesn’t, I can give a brief overview."

Old Parrish was already retired, so he didn’t know the specifics of what had happened. Young Zane probably didn’t know all the details either.

Mia Kane took a deep breath, then began. "I was Chase Lockwood’s secret girlfriend for three years. He was captured by kidnappers who demanded a large ransom. I brought the money to get him back, but they... they probably took a liking to me. They told me to leave the money and trade myself for him..."

Just then, Adrian Preston took her hand.

His palm was warm and large, enveloping her small hand completely, giving her a sense of security.

Every breath Mia Kane took was painful.

Reopening old wounds was never a pleasant experience.

The memories were so painful she could barely breathe.

"They tried to... assault me, but I have a fierce temper. I nearly bit through one of their throats. I was beaten severely and drugged. After that, the leader of the kidnappers forced himself on me. I don’t remember what happened after that. All I know is... when I woke up, there was no one left on the boat..."

She tried her best to remain calm, but her words still came out haltingly.

Young Zane and Old Parrish fell silent. The looks they gave her were no longer frivolous or casual, but filled with solemn respect, tinged with sympathy and sorrow.

Mia Kane straightened her back a little more.

’They can respect me.’

’But I don’t need their pity.’

"That’s what happened. What do you need me to do next?"

"I’ll spread the word that you secretly contacted me, that you provided the boat’s location and crew information, which led to their capture. William might not believe it, but some of his men definitely will. Then, we just need to wait patiently for William to make his move."

"As long as he makes a move in Argent, whether he does it personally or not, I’m confident I can detain him for a rigorous interrogation. As long as we can interrogate him and stall for time, we’re bound to pry something useful out of him."

"After that, we’ll need you to go out from time to time, to give him an opportunity to strike."

"Mia Kane, we don’t know when he’ll make his move, or what methods he’ll use. And we can’t get police assistance; it’s just our own small group. We... we might not be able to protect you. You can still back out now."

"It’s okay. If you can’t protect me, as long as you find my body, the forensic analysis and all that will surely lead back to him..."

Before she could finish, Adrian Preston cut her off.

"I will definitely protect you."